CRCL vs. GEN: Circle Internet vs. Gen Digital Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN) both belong to the Software industry, though CRCL is classified under Application Software while GEN falls under Systems Software.

Gen Digital (GEN) carries decades of public-market history since June 23, 1989, while Circle Internet (CRCL) listed on June 5, 2025 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the GEN side.

Company profile comparison for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN)
Profile Item	CRCL	GEN
Name	Circle Internet Group, Inc. Class A	Gen Digital Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Software & Services	Software & Services
GICS Industry	Software	Software
GICS Sub-Industry	Application Software	Systems Software
Market Capitalization	17.41 billion USD	17.67 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	June 5, 2025	June 23, 1989
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CRCL

GEN

GSPC

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN)
Metric	CRCL	GEN
Total Return (1Y)	-33.88%	18.20%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	--	18.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	--	5.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CRCL

GEN

GSPC

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN)
Metric	CRCL	GEN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	96.01%	43.30%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	1.23
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-80.93%	-48.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)	12.74M	8.39M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CRCL and GEN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN)
Metric	CRCL	GEN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.40	0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.61	0.50

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Gen Digital (GEN) at 46.40% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at 13.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for GEN.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

13.44%

Max: 53.85%
Q3: 17.90%
CRCL: 13.44%
Median: 6.59%
Q1: -9.59%
Min: -50.52%

GEN

Software & Services industry group

46.40%

Max: 53.85%
GEN: 46.40%
Q3: 17.90%
Median: 6.59%
Q1: -9.59%
Min: -50.52%

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Gen Digital (GEN) at 23.07% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Circle Internet (CRCL) at 15.28%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

15.28%

Max: 41.17%
CRCL: 15.28%
Q3: 15.28%
Median: 4.63%
Q1: -5.42%
Min: -33.17%

GEN

Software & Services industry group

23.07%

Max: 41.17%
GEN: 23.07%
Q3: 15.28%
Median: 4.63%
Q1: -5.42%
Min: -33.17%

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 24.09% and Gen Digital (GEN) at 37.40% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

24.09%

Max: 46.89%
CRCL: 24.09%
Q3: 17.64%
Median: 8.73%
Q1: -2.13%
Min: -30.45%

GEN

Software & Services industry group

37.40%

Max: 46.89%
GEN: 37.40%
Q3: 17.64%
Median: 8.73%
Q1: -2.13%
Min: -30.45%

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN)
Metric	CRCL	GEN
ROE (TTM)	13.44%	46.40%
ROA (TTM)	0.28%	8.94%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.28%	23.07%
Operating Margin (TTM)	24.09%	37.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.58%	77.41%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both companies are growing quickly, but Circle Internet (CRCL) at 63.86% is the standout with revenue growth above its industry range; Gen Digital (GEN) at 27.06% also sits in the top quartile.

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Gen Digital (GEN) at 52.43% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at -640.54% falls below its industry range — a large difference in per-share earnings trajectories.

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN)
Metric	CRCL	GEN
Revenue Growth (YoY)	63.86%	27.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	52.66%	14.66%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-640.54%	52.43%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-10.09%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 1.04 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Gen Digital (GEN) at 0.37 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for GEN.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

1.04

Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.67
CRCL: 1.04
Q1: 1.01
Min: 0.03

GEN

Software & Services industry group

0.37

Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.01
GEN: 0.37
Min: 0.03

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Circle Internet (CRCL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Gen Digital (GEN) at 2.96 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
Median: 0.40
Q1: 0.07
CRCL: 0.00
Min: 0.00

GEN

Software & Services industry group

2.96

GEN: 2.96
Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
Median: 0.40
Q1: 0.07
Min: 0.00

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN)
Metric	CRCL	GEN
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.04	0.37
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.00	2.96
Net Debt / EBITDA	-4.68	3.02

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Gen Digital (GEN) reports a yield of 1.63%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRCL: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GEN

Software & Services industry group

1.63%

GEN: 1.63%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Circle Internet (CRCL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Gen Digital (GEN) reports a payout of 25.38%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

CRCL: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

GEN

Software & Services industry group

25.38%

GEN: 25.38%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN)
Metric	CRCL	GEN
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	1.63%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	25.38%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Gen Digital (GEN) at 15.12 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at 40.89 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for GEN, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

40.89

Max: 112.94
Q3: 60.32
CRCL: 40.89
Median: 32.91
Q1: 18.77
Min: 6.69

GEN

Software & Services industry group

15.12

Max: 112.94
Q3: 60.32
Median: 32.91
Q1: 18.77
GEN: 15.12
Min: 6.69

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 5.75 and Gen Digital (GEN) at 3.38 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

5.75

Max: 17.91
Q3: 8.78
CRCL: 5.75
Median: 4.25
Q1: 2.23
Min: 0.02

GEN

Software & Services industry group

3.38

Max: 17.91
Q3: 8.78
Median: 4.25
GEN: 3.38
Q1: 2.23
Min: 0.02

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Circle Internet (CRCL) at 4.50 and Gen Digital (GEN) at 6.45 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

CRCL

Software & Services industry group

4.50

Max: 16.63
Q3: 8.50
CRCL: 4.50
Median: 4.30
Q1: 1.92
Min: -3.90

GEN

Software & Services industry group

6.45

Max: 16.63
Q3: 8.50
GEN: 6.45
Median: 4.30
Q1: 1.92
Min: -3.90

Circle Internet (CRCL) vs. Gen Digital (GEN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Circle Internet (CRCL) and Gen Digital (GEN)
Metric	CRCL	GEN
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.89	15.12
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.75	3.38
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.50	6.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.43%	10.25%